Systems and methods for removing carbon dioxide from a fluid

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a system for extracting carbon dioxide from a fluid. The system can include a fluid source and a reactor. The reactor can include one or more chambers, and each chamber can include one or more monoliths for adsorbing carbon dioxide from the fluid. The chambers can be alternatively unsealed for a contacting mode and sealed for a regeneration mode. A power source can provide an electric current to the monoliths to release carbon dioxide adsorbed by the monoliths. Each chamber can include an array of monoliths. Each monolith can include a sorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide from fluid. The system can include modular components such that the number of reactors can be increased or decreased.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular system, comprising:
 a plurality of reactors comprising a first reactor and a second reactor, the first reactor being removably coupled to the second reactor, 
 wherein the first reactor comprises:
 a first inlet configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source; 
 a first monolith comprising a sorbent configured to adsorb carbon dioxide; 
 an electric conduit configured to provide an electric current to the first monolith to release carbon dioxide adsorbed by the first monolith; 
 a first closure configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first closure is configured to seal the first inlet in the closed position; 
 an outlet configured to remove the fluid from the reactor; and 
 a second closure configured to move between an open position to a closed position, wherein the second closure is configured to seal the outlet in the closed position, and 
 
 wherein the second reactor comprises:
 a second inlet configured to receive the fluid from the fluid source; 
 a second monolith comprising a sorbent configured to adsorb carbon dioxide; 
 an electric conduit configured to provide an electric current to the second monolith to release carbon dioxide adsorbed by the second monolith; and 
 a third closure configured to move between an open position to a closed position, 
 wherein the third closure is configured to seal the second inlet in the closed position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The modular system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reactor is stacked on the top of the second reactor. 
     
     
       3. The modular system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan configured to direct the fluid through the first inlet of the first reactor and the second inlet of the second reactor. 
     
     
       4. The modular system of  claim 3 , further comprising a control unit coupled to the first reactor and the second reactor. 
     
     
       5. The modular system of  claim 4 , further comprising a carbon dioxide purification unit coupled to the first reactor and to the second reactor. 
     
     
       6. The modular system of  claim 1 , wherein the second reactor further comprises:
 a second outlet configured to remove the fluid from the reactor; and 
 a fourth closure configured to move between an open position to a closed position, wherein the fourth closure is configured to seal the second outlet in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       7. The modular system of  claim 6 , wherein the first reactor further comprises:
 a first hydraulic cylinder configured to move the first closure of the first reactor between the closed position and the open position. 
 
     
     
       8. The modular system of  claim 7 , wherein the first reactor further comprises:
 a first clamp configured to secure the first closure of the first reactor in the closed position; and 
 a second clamp configured to secure the second closure of the first reactor in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       9. The modular system of  claim 7 , wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is configured to move the first closure of the first reactor between the open position and the closed position based on a difference between the carbon dioxide concentration at the first inlet and the carbon dioxide concentration at the outlet of the first reactor. 
     
     
       10. The modular system of  claim 9 , wherein the first reactor further comprises further comprises a second hydraulic cylinder configured to move the second closure of the first reactor between the open position and the closed position based on a difference between the carbon dioxide concentration at the first inlet and the carbon dioxide concentration at the outlet of the first reactor. 
     
     
       11. The modular system of  claim 10 , wherein the first reactor further comprises a first sensor configured to detect the carbon dioxide concentration of the fluid at the outlet of the first reactor. 
     
     
       12. The modular system of  claim 11 , wherein the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder move the first closure of the first reactor and the second closure of the first reactor to the closed position when the carbon dioxide concentration of the fluid at the outlet of the first reactor exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
       13. The modular system of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined value is in a range of 80 wt % to 95 wt %. 
     
     
       14. The modular system of  claim 6 , wherein the outlet of the first reactor is coupled to a duct, the duct comprising a fan configured to direct the fluid through the first inlet. 
     
     
       15. The modular system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second sensor configured to measure volumetric flow rate of the fluid at the first inlet, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is configured to move the first closure of the first reactor between the open position and the closed position based on the measured volumetric flow rate of the fluid at the first inlet. 
     
     
       16. The modular system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reactor comprises an array of monoliths, and wherein the first array of monoliths comprises the first monolith. 
     
     
       17. The modular system of  claim 1 , wherein the first monolith and the second monolith each comprises a metal carbonate. 
     
     
       18. The modular system of  claim 17 , wherein the metal carbonate compound comprises at least one of potassium carbonate or calcium carbonate. 
     
     
       19. The modular system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric current has a frequency in a range of about 2 kHz to about 200 kHz. 
     
     
       20. The modular system of  claim 19 , wherein the electric current is in a range of 0.1 A to 30 A. 
     
     
       21. The modular system of  claim 19 , wherein the electric current is alternating current. 
     
     
       22. The modular system of  claim 19 , wherein the electric conduit of the first reactor is configured to provide the electric current to heat the first monolith to a temperature in a range of 120° C. to 180° C. 
     
     
       23. The modular system of  claim 19 , wherein the electric conduit of the first reactor is configured to provide the electric current to heat the first monolith to a temperature of 150° C. in 30 seconds or less. 
     
     
       24. The modular system of  claim 22 , wherein the first monolith has a life of 100 cycles to 4000 cycles, wherein each cycle includes heating the first monolith with the electric current and cooling the first monolith to an ambient temperature. 
     
     
       25. The modular system of  claim 22 , wherein the electric conduit of the first reactor is configured to provide the electric current to the first monolith only when the first closure of the first reactor is in the closed position. 
     
     
       26. The modular system of  claim 25 , wherein the electric conduit of the first reactor comprises a first electrode coupled to a first surface of the first monolith, and wherein the electric conduit of the first reactor is configured to provide the electric current to the first monolith through the first electrode. 
     
     
       27. The modular system of  claim 26 , wherein the electric conduit of the first reactor further comprises a second electrode coupled to a second surface of the first monolith, and wherein the first electrode of the first reactor and the second electrode of the first reactor are a pair of bipolar electrodes. 
     
     
       28. The modular system of  claim 27 , wherein a difference between a pressure of the fluid at the first inlet and a pressure of the fluid at the outlet of the first reactor is in a range of 0.2 inches of water column to 1.1 inches of water column. 
     
     
       29. A modular system, comprising:
 a plurality of reactors comprising a first reactor and a second reactor, the first reactor being removably coupled to the second reactor, 
 wherein the first reactor comprises:
 a first inlet configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source; 
 a first monolith comprising a sorbent configured to adsorb carbon dioxide, the sorbent comprising a metal carbonate; 
 an electric conduit configured to provide an electric current to the first monolith to release carbon dioxide adsorbed by the first monolith; 
 a closure configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the closure is configured to seal the first inlet in the closed position, and wherein the second reactor comprises: 
 a second inlet configured to receive the fluid from the fluid source; 
 a second monolith comprising a sorbent configured to adsorb carbon dioxide, the sorbent comprising a metal carbonate; 
 an electric conduit configured to provide an electric current to the second monolith to release carbon dioxide adsorbed by the second monolith; and 
 a closure configured to move between an open position to a closed position, 
 wherein the closure is configured to seal the second inlet in the closed position. 
 
 
     
     
       30. The modular system of  claim 29 , wherein the electric current has a frequency in a range of about 2 kHz to about 200 kHz.